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Yankees Ivan Nova: 'No pressure' to stop losing streak

Ivan Nova

New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) in the dugout after he pitched during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

No, really, Ivan Nova said he feels no pressure to stop the Yankees' two-game losing skid. Still, he'll get his chance against the Astros at 8:10 p.m. Thursday at Minute Maid Park.

"No, no, no," he said, smiling. "I don't feel pressure, nothing."

Instead, Nova said, he's more anxious to make his first start of the regular season after a strong spring training and a 2013 that didn't turn heads so much as it whipped them.

Nova struggled early, but a short demotion to the minors in late May woke him up, he said. He finished the year as arguably the Yankees' top starter, going 9-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 139 innings.

Nova carried that success into February and March. The 27-year-old posted a 3.66 ERA in 19.2 innings. He struck out 21 hitters along the way, and at one point got veteran catcher Brian McCann to say he's got "no ceiling" on his talent.

Nova's caught the eye of CC Sabathia, too. Before his first start of the season, Sabathia singled out Nova, saying he expects a big season from the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder.

"Just his maturity," Sabathia said. "I know that he’s in a big role for us this year. We need him to step up and I think everything that he’s been through the past couple years. Going up and down, and the second half of last year he pitched really well. Hopefully he can just keep that momentum going and carry that into the season."

When told about Sabathia's comments, Nova smiled wide.

"That's good to hear," he said. "That makes me feel good. I know he's proud of what I'm doing so far. He's a guy that has a lot of influence on me. He's a guy that helped me a lot in everything — on and off the field. So coming from CC, I don't even know what to tell you, man. It's really unbelievable that he has me on his mind.

"That gives me that extra motivation. It's great."

Nova said he agreed with Sabathia: He is, in fact, a bit more mature.

"I can say yes, definitely," he said. "There were a lot of things that I was afraid to do in the past. But as the time goes on, and you're getting older, you realize there's nothing more you can worry about other than to focus on yourself and do your things."

But, according to Nova, he wasn't afraid on the mound. Rather, he said, he was just like any other young athlete surrounded by stars he idolized growing up — Derek Jeter, Sabathia, Mariano Rivera. He was a little awestruck, he said.

"My first two years, if Jeter talked to me or if he asked me something, I'd get a little bit nervous, even though I've known him for a little bit," Nova said. "Now I have enough confidence to talk to him, to talk to other guys, guys that I don't know that I just get to know around here. That's one of the things that makes you grow up a little bit more. I can go to any of these guys and have a conversation with them."

But, Nova said, now he feels grown.

"I'm old enough now to know what I need to do," he said.

And that's to stop the Yankees from getting swept by MLB's worst baseball team of 2013. No pressure, though.